---
title: Can Household Robots Learn From Experience—and YouTube?
date: 2026-03-05T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/can-household-robots-learn-from-experience-and-youtube"
section: Articles
---
# Can Household Robots Learn From Experience—and YouTube?

*March 5, 2026* — by [Diya Sharma M.S. ’27](/author/diya-sharma-m-s-27)


> UMD Researcher Develops Data-Driven Methods That Mimic Human Behavior to Accelerate Reliable Domestic Assistants

*Main artwork 1920x1080 — Research by computer science Ph.D. student Seungjae Lee (below) will enable robots to learn not only from their own physical experiences, but also from the vast reservoir of human activity captured online. (Illustration by iStock)*

One reason that robots can’t yet handle everyday household chores like washing dishes, folding laundry and ironing shirts is that they don’t know how to navigate the unpredictable, often messy environments of real homes.

At the University of Maryland, doctoral student Seungjae “Jay” Lee is developing new data-driven methods designed to bridge the gap between impressive laboratory demonstrations and dependable real-world performance of domestic tasks. His work centers on enabling robots to learn not only from their own physical experiences, but also from the vast reservoir of human activity captured in online videos.


*Seungjae Lee works on laptop — (Photo by Mansi Srivastava M.S. ’26)*



**Sidebar note:**

**AI at Maryland**

The University of Maryland is shaping the future of artificial intelligence by forging solutions to the world’s most pressing issues through collaborative research, training the leaders of an AI-infused workforce and applying AI to strengthen our economy and communities.

Read [more](https://today.umd.edu/topic/artificial-intelligence) about how UMD embraces AI’s potential for the public good—without losing sight of the human values that power it.





**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Robotics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/robotics), [Computer Science](https://today.umd.edu/topic/computer-science), [Artificial Intelligence](https://today.umd.edu/topic/artificial-intelligence), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences), [University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies](https://today.umd.edu/topic/university-of-maryland-institute-for-advanced-computer-studies)